Around 26 million motorists* in the UK are unaware that they are risking serious damage to their cars and four-figure repair bills by not keeping an eye on their oil level.

So says car care company, Comma, as it launches National Oil Check Day on Friday 25th July. To support the campaign, the Company has launched a new website at www.checkyouroil.co.uk to offer valuable information and advice.

Research reveals that three quarters of motorists wrongly rely on the dashboard’s oil warning light as a reminder to top up their engine. Typically, the oil warning light actually means the levels are so low that serious mechanical damage is likely to occur.

Although 96 percent of those surveyed “claimed” they knew what the oil warning light signified, only 1 in 4 correctly repeated standard manufacturer advice of stopping immediately and switching the engine off. A third would continue their journey until they could top-up despite the risk of blowing the engine altogether!

National Oil Check Day has been set up by Comma to urge motorists to take simple routine car maintenance more seriously.

Three in five drivers don’t carry out the ‘dipstick test’ to check their oil level every month, as recommended, and one in 10 said they never do.

Young drivers (17-24) showed that motorists are becoming increasingly blasé with over a quarter (26%) admitting they never check their oil.

Meanwhile, the older generation, despite being more mechanically savvy, are not without fault – 22% more of drivers over 65 failed to recognise the severity of the oil light coming on than those in the youngest bracket.

“Too many people think of their oil warning light in the same way as their petrol light when, actually, it’s an awful lot more serious,” says Comma’s Mike Bewsey. “By the time the oil light comes on, it’s probably too late to avoid problems and you may only be a handful of miles away from massive inconvenience and a repair bill just as big!”

For further information and to find your nearest stockist, visit www.commaoil.com and click on the Where to Buy button.